Let’s be clear about this. This was not a vintage Arsenal performance. It was not even a good Arsenal performance. But it was a performance that got the Gunners a point away from home, a performance that in previous years would have resulted in Liverpool winning.
With no Febrgeas in the Arsenal line-up and van Persie on the bench, Arsenal went with Wilshere, Eboue and Diaby in midfield and Nasri providing the link between midfield and attack. Both Laurent Koscielny and Marouane Chamakh made their Premier League debuts.
Arsenal started the game well with Nasri pulling the strings of the Arsenal attack. The Gunners had lots of possession without creating any good goalscoring opportunities.
Right before the half, the game sprung to life. Johnson had a shot tipped over by Almunia and Ngog then had a header cleared off the line from the resulting corner. Then the complexion of the game changed completely in injury time when Joe Cole was shown a straight red for a reckless challenge on Koscielny.
But it was Liverpool that scored first. Wilshere gave the ball away outside the Arsenal penalty box. Vermaelen was too slow to close down Ngog and then Almunia was beaten high at his near post with the shot. A really bad goal to give up.
Even with the man advantage, Arsenal never pegged Liverpool back in their own half. Nasri disappeared in the second half and I have never seen Arshavin play as poorly as he did. Why Wenger did not take him off is a mystery to me.
But with time running out Arsenal conjured up a goal from nothing. A Rosicky cross had misplaced by Reina as Chamakh challenged hi. To the horror of the Liverpool goalkeeper, the ball bounced off the post and then him for an own goal. It was a terrible goalkeeping error.
In the last minute of the game Koscielny was sent off for two bookable offences and will miss the game at home to Blackpool next weekend,
So poor Arsenal performance, but a point away from home from one of the “big six” is still a point gained and that is how I look at it. Thoughts on the game?
{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
I am happy about the red card maybe that will force Wenger to finally accept the fact that we need 2 more central defenders and not one.
Almunia performance is something that I am very happy about. He made 3 good mistakes in a single match and I will be surprise if he is not given his rightful position after the first 3 matches.
He does not fill me with confidence and the defense is total rubbish. Diaby to me was a disgrace, never releasing the ball until he or the person he passing to has been marked.
I wonder why Song or Frimpong did not place in his place.
We got a good point but the team I saw doesn’t look like a team that can with standing the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham and City.
Agree!
I could not agree more. The team played the usual passing game, which worked reasonably well in the first half. However, in the second, with Liverpool down to 10 men we regressed. There was simply no penetration and no spark. I have always felt that veryone else misunderstood Diaby but he seemed hell bent on proving his detractors right. The team had no conviction and certainly no drive. We looked clueless for most of the second. The new boys were kosielny looked like a school boy. Certainly not what you wil call a commanding presence. We will be extremely lucky to end the season in the top four.
Almunia got beat on the near post! That was a terrible mistake.
To be fair, we got lucky with the Reina own goal, but Almunia should not have allowed Ngog’s shot to go in. Quality keepers do not get beat to the near post. Schwarzer or Mannone!
FUCK wenger !!!! we need a decent GK & 2 CBs ASAP…….
I agree.. Why wasn’t Arshavin taken off? Both he and Diaby just don’t look fit enough. Send them both to a training camp so Diaby can improve his stamina which is awful and Arshavinin too as really cant keep up with the pace of the premiership. Arshavin was exposed in the semi final of the champions league when he couldn’t keep up with the tempo of the barcelaona flanks. He lacked power at the end of his runs today, he is either unfit/lazy or just not suited to playing wide.
Do you think 4-4-2 would suit Arshavin more as he is wasted playing wide and is such a wasted talent at the moment?
Please note, gooners, that we equalised because of a howler by Reina. Now think carefully about this huge error from one of the best, and most desirable keepers in the world, and now imagine how we would hang draw and quarter Almunia or Fabianski had they done the same thing. I am sick of Arsenal fans spouting how the grass would be greener with this or that keeper or CB without in any way considering REALITY.
We are extremely lucky to come away with a point. We created NOTHING, how many shots on goal did we have? I still cannot see the hunger in this team, do they really want to win the games the play? there is no urgency in our game whatsoever!!
Almunia = (5) was his normal self, flapping at crosses and getting beaten way to easy.
Sagna, Clichy = (6) still cannot cross a ball to save their life. I would really like to see Eboue and Gibbs be given the nod.
Verminator, Kosc = (7) played well
Diaby = (6) decent game, holds on to the ball to long which get’s us in trouble
Wilshere = (5) showed that he is not ready to start for the Arsenal. The goal was his fault. I don’t really see what it is that he offers the team that Rosicky can’t give us?
Nasri = (7) great first half, never losses possession and always tries. Faded away in the second, but who didn’t in our team?
Eboue = (6) quite game, not bad nor good
Chamakh = (6) worked hard the whole game, not easy to play your first PL game at anfield. Was offered little support from our midfield.
Arshavin = (3) Shocking performance. He looks out of shape and not even interested to play. Does not deserve to play the next game.
subs :
Rosicky = came in and did well, always looking forward and offers much more in my opinion then what Wilshere can give us.
Walcott = he runs very fast
RVP = just came back to training so i did not expect much from him.
Our problems remain boys. We are way to soft at the back.. Every single cross in the box is dangerous. This needs to be sorted out and fast!
No surprise to me that we weren’t able to win this game, considering the line-up we started with. I think the clearest and most logical obstacle to our winning anything this season is:
Almunia: He is obviously very weak willed and has the composure of a startled budgie.
Denilson: Once again, weak willed as well as being too slow and small.
Diaby: Yet again, weak willed and seems to be incapable of learning from his mistakes, of which there have been many.
Clichy: I’m sad to say this coz he was very nearly a great player but he is like a frightened little girl when someone half decent attacks his side. Same ole same old.
Arshavin: First season was fantastic but last season was abysmal. Yes, he was played out of position a lot. However, he looked like he didn’t care in most of the games he played in, and never tracked back to help out the defence. Don’t know what’s wrong with him but he doesn’t work hard enough and that will cost us.
Wenger: A great manager but unfortunately for him, his valiant effort to build a team for next to nothing has pretty much failed because although these players he nurtured are good, they are very frail and fragile when up against determined and aggressive teams, especially Man u and Chelsea who are teams filled with brutes and arrogant players. I absolutely can’t stand Terry, Lampard or Ashley Cole, overpaid, venomous slime that shouldn’t be playing for England. (Sorry, just had to vent that!)
I have been optimistic at the start of the last few seasons and time and again we have failed for the same reasons over and over.
My expectations for this season are low. I expect we might possibly finish 5th-6th. I hate to say it, and i’m not normally a doom monger but this time i really have accepted that we just can’t compete with teams that spent huge money on players every year, and the players are getting bigger (Look at Chelsea). Therefore, i have lowered my expectations.
Groundhog season is at hand!!
Almunia cost us 2 points today. Stupid goal-leaker!!
Laurent K had a good game (to me he was our man of match) a really good one Alumunia is still making the same mistakes we cant win league with him Jack is not old enough for top flight that howler was utter stupidity Walcott had a good game, Diaby constantly slowed the build up did not link with attack isolating chamakh, defensive wise he exposed the back four someone tell me his contribution
Koscielny was good which match were u watching…
When Gerrard wasn’t carded in the first half I yelled for someone to kick Atkinson in the balls. My prayer was heard but misdirected when Koscielny caught Kuyt in the groin. I felt beggars can’t be choosers.
But Almunia was the nightmare we all knew he would be. But sadly he was the best choice, and it could have turned out much worse. Last season conditioned me to expect a late Arsenal goal. I wasn’t displeased. Spanish goalkeeping has real egg on its face today.
i agree at some part of ur article …it wasnt even a good arsenal performance…but the point away from home is merely a gift…a gift from reina…honestly arsenal sucked… there was no arshevin performance… poor start from wilshire…and most importantly defence…alimunia…how much more chances does this guy will get…. so many mistakes from him…. i think the liverpool goal was his mistake…atleast f***ing touch the ball before going in….y the hell wenger is not going for shy given… and one more thing…y in the name of GOd wnger is signing another defender….just tell me y???
Shocking…..to wide not enough players in the middile of the pitch to many miss played Passes at times dodgy defending and a mistake leading to Liverpools opener i think its clear Arsenal need to chip in and buy Subotic and Mark or Shay Given or even Loan a Shay and keep the door open for Szenzy….Less French and more English and German to….im not one for the 100% English rule im not againts Foriegn players at all but i think we need to get rid of some dead wood….but that was a shocking game nowhere near Arsenals standerd
Y didnt AW start with rosicky rather then wilshere and arshavin should have been taken off instead of eboue. Chamakh and koscielny need. But what happens in our next game. No kos and djourou still injured.we need a cb urgently and Almunia didnt fill me with coinfidence either.
Good match report. Our crosses, from whoever, were poor throughout and to continue the close passing game from last season, so near to the opposition’s penalty area, is getting easier to defend. Don’t be too hard on Arshavin and Diaby,,,,,a rusty display from both but they will come good. I’m more worried about losing Koscielny for a couple of games….at a time when c/b’s are in short supply. I hope the Club appeals against the second yellow as the handball was NOT deliberate.
Both teams didn’t want to lose their first game, so in the end it was a fair result. We need to be more direct, Diaby needs to stop toying around with the ball, and instead work on his passes. Eboue was horrible. Wilshire is not yet ready, Arshavin looked tired and not interested. The subs saved the day in the end. It’s the first game of the season without our usual midfield (Cesc, Song, denilson) playing against Liverpool at home, I am happy. One final thing, was I the only one who thought every corner against us was gonna end up in the net?!! Other teams will use and abuse set pieces against us until we make a statement (sign a keeper and a tall CB). All and all, good result
The red card for Kosc, and the once again bad game of Almunia will force Wenger to do business this week.
I do not want to be negative, but pls lads… can somebody tell me what it is that is so good with Almunia? What is it that Wenger sees in him that we don’t?
We were lucky not to conceed in the first half when he flapped at the liverpool corner. When was the last time Almunia was the hero for us, when was the last time he saved us a point?
Wouldn’t you guys rather see gibbs play on the left side of defense?
i think wnger will finally put his brain to do wat it is not used to..ie. thinking and forget abt cash and bring a tough defender and good gk pronto…!!
Good match report. I thought that Koscielny played reasonably well before his sending off, and that Chamakh looked okay but very slow. Arshavin and Almunia were awful, but Rosicky and Walcott both played well. There was no urgency in the second half after we went down, and the speed of play was never good enough to break down the Liverpool defense. Still all in all I’ll take a point against Liverpool away, especially after playing so poorly. Lets hope that Fabregas and Van Persie are back to full fitness soon and that Arsene can buy a new Keeper and Center Back.
what i am saying Aw need to act nw b4 its 2 late pls buy us cb and keeper pls
Re Pigmund
Agreed about Almunia but he kept us from losing by saving Gerrard’s free at the end. Half the trouble with him would be solved if he became a “stay at home goalie”. It’s when he leaves his goal line that the flaps and misses occur. Agreed also that Gerrard was a lucky lad to avoid two yellows…. he really is getting a reputation for thuggery on the field, these days.
Almunia again at fault for the goal and hus save from Gerrad could have been caught went flapping also he give the defence no confidence at all.
Wenger needs two more cb a keeper (Given please) and a quality holding midfielder Mascirano style
this is the 6th year in a row…i just pity the arsenal fans…and to top it all wenger gets an extension till 2014…resting on past glories is all what he does…it is going to be another disappointing season for Arsenal!!
The fact that Arshavin went up to Almunia to speak to him before the Gerrard free kick shows exactly how much confidence the team has in their own goalkeeper. Almunia should go but if Wenger wants to be seeing him every day then he should get a sit next to Wenger on the bench.
We will not win anything with him the first choice.
first i dont think think almunia should be 100percent blamed for the goal i think he should hv covered the near post better but other than that he couldnt do much. the blame should be on wilshere for losing the ball so cheaply without much pressure on him. with tht said i though koscielny and chamack had a decent game and i thought we drew because of bad team selection from wenger. Rosicky shouldv started ahead of wilshere especially in a midfield that consisted of masherano and gerrard he pushed around. 2) walcott shouldv started instead of eboue, 3)diaby shouldnt have made the team to anfield in the first place, he was clearly not fit! 4) arshavin is just plain lazy!! my suggestion sell him! and get an hard working player like kuyt. 5) i think rosicky was our most effective player in the second half and should be given credit. but all in all an average perfromance from arsenal but we leave anfield with a point. its better than nothing!
I disagree about your claim that Walcott should have been in place at the beginning instead of Eboue. For the first half Eboue played with skill and intelligence. Walcott has speed but he doesn’t have half the skill that Eboue has. I was one of the many down on Eboue at the beginning of last season, but he’s grown on me.
Same old story.
We are unable to unlock an ordinary defence even with this huge ball posession.
Wenger was right to block Fabregas’ transfer, this team is not having an attacking flair without Fabregas.
Its too early to say anything about Kosielny, his performance was good but this league is too demanding.
I,m sorry to say this but almunia is at fault for the goal. We need two center back and a keeper or we will finishe outside top 7. Act fast or every team will inflate the price of/any player we want to buy. Good game but we need better performance to win d league
Almunia have a good game, that’s what Wenger said, and it is a bit true. Tonight he’s not really bad right?
Sagna, good game, but not really sharp. If Van Der Wiel signed, maybe we are better, but just forget it, let support our OWN man.
Glichy, decent game, i scared to death when i hear Arsenal want swap him with Melo, please don’t.
Koscielny Koscielny Koscielny, it is nice to have him in squad tonight, without his header, many of through pass cant be intercept.
Vermaelen, good as always, even make a mistake, but talking about game, he has it.
Diaby, he is a good dribbler, but bad at shooting, need to improve that and his strength.
Eboue, sometimes he change the game, but he hold the ball too long dude.
Arshavin, i cant see him, so, no comment. (maybe got a tight mark, he scored all 4 goal isn’t it?
Nasri, i like when he played CM, if he played like tonight, and combo with Fabregas, maybe we can lift trophy this season.
Wilshere, totally nervous and inexperience, but he is 18!
Chamakh, tight marking dude, he cant really move, Skrtel love him so much right? Always stick with him.
Walcott, i hope he stay fit this season, we need you man!
Rosicky, another loyal servant of arsenal, his passing is just great man.
Robin van Persie, he cant really move right?
Overall, i think it was fantastic we escaped from losing, we played in Anfield mates,not Emirates!
Just look at the line up, Liverpool has better, but we drew with them at Anfield!
I actually agree with the post march analysis posted to my email. In my own personal view Diaby is still not up to the task in that midfield is high time to do away with this guy.Wilshere is a young talent I personally admire, but to have played him in the mist of those PAPARELS (Big Big MEN) being that it is one our big away march at start of the season, was a decision the manager took i really question.
Thank you.
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